Brain Balancing for Performance, Mental Health, and Daily Life on NewsChat with Background Sounds, Optional Brain Health Assessments, and an Optional Heart Rate Biofeedback App

NewsChat includes a built-in brain balancing system designed to support focus, emotional regulation, creativity, recovery, and mental health while people work, read, socialize, relax, watch shows, or heal. The system is based on research-guided sound training that gently supports healthy brain rhythms—the same approach used across MeditatingSounds and Meditatory.

The sounds can be used quietly in the background while scrolling, writing, reading news, working, or resting, or more intentionally as a short meditation. The goal is not stimulation, but balance: helping the brain return to rhythms associated with attention, calm, memory, and recovery.

This system was developed and guided by a former teacher to clinical staff at the University of Minnesota Medical Center and has been used by clinicians, educators, and individuals for performance, emotional health, and neurological recovery.

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How the Brain Balancing System Helps

The brain operates through rhythms that shift throughout the day—during focus, creativity, stress, rest, and sleep. When these rhythms become imbalanced (from chronic stress, trauma, screen overload, pain, or neurological injury), people often experience anxiety, poor concentration, fatigue, memory problems, or emotional reactivity.

The brain balancing sounds used on NewsChat are designed to gently remind the brain of these healthier rhythms. They do not require effort, belief, or training. Many users simply let the sound play quietly while they go about their day.

Research on sound-based brain training associated with this system has shown the following:

Memory and Attention

In one study, adults in mid-life who used the attention training sound improved their working memory by an average of 11%. In that same study, adults with ADHD improved working memory by up to 29%.

The sounds increase blood flow in brain regions associated with attention and memory. They can also be used alongside mental rehearsal or visualization. Research from sports psychology shows that mental rehearsal combined with physical practice leads to better performance than physical practice alone.

Anxiety and Mood

In one hospital study, the relaxation sound lowered anxiety by an average of 58% more than listening to music and 86% more than silence. Reduced anxiety is also associated with improvements in mood and depressive symptoms.

Pain and Physical Stress

In a small university study focused on fibromyalgia and chronic pain, adults who used the relaxation sound several times per week experienced an average 77% reduction in pain after about two months.

More than 20% of adults struggle with chronic pain, and more than 26% report ongoing pain that interferes with daily functioning.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s-Related Memory Decline

Research referenced in this system includes methods that reduced memory-blocking plaque in the brains of mice with Alzheimer’s by 37% in the hippocampus after one week of sound-based training. The hippocampus is a primary brain region involved in memory.

Memory-blocking plaque begins accumulating in many people during their 40s and 50s. About 16% of adults aged 75–85 have noticeable dementia, and approximately 34% of adults over 85 experience it. Dementia is also strongly linked with anxiety.

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Designed for Real-World Use

The brain balancing sounds are intentionally simple and flexible:

•They can be used on a phone, tablet, or computer

•They work as background sounds or with headphones

•They can be used while working, reading, exercising, relaxing, or watching content

•They are intended only for adults using the sound designed for their needs

Because the system is passive, many people use it without changing their routine—letting it support attention during work, calm during stressful reading, or relaxation during downtime.

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Clinical Guidance and Credibility

The step-by-step approach behind this system has been used by staff and patients from organizations including:

•The Mayo Clinic

•The University of Minnesota Medical Center

•The Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented

•The Learning Disability Association of Minnesota

The sound-selection guide was developed by Peter Meilahn, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor, a former teacher to clinical staff at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.

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Testimonials

“It really works. I can listen to the one I need, and it takes my pain away.”

Lisa, Edina, MN (A mother who lives with fibromyalgia and chronic pain)

“It is the only thing that works. My migraines have gone from 3–5 per month to zero.”

Rosiland, Edina, MN (A thriving business owner living with chronic pain after a car accident)

“It does what it says it does, it took my pain away.”

Thomas, MN (An older adult living with chronic pain)

“My memory has improved. I feel more focus, and calm.”

Aaron, Duluth, MN (College and high school hockey coach with a traumatic brain injury)

“I can focus more easily. It helps me stay on task, and block out distractions.”

Mathew, Minneapolis (Professional software developer with high anxiety from trauma)

“My memory is better, and I get more done.”

Katie (Massage therapist recovering from a traumatic brain injury)

“She went from sleeping 4–5 hours a night to 8 in a week after 7–8 years of sleeping like that. I am going to send you more clients.”

Elizabeth, MSW, LICSW, MN (Referring to a client with a long history of trauma using the relaxation sound)

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A Supportive Tool, Not a Replacement for Care

The sounds used on NewsChat are supported by research showing benefits across memory, attention, anxiety, pain, dementia and Alzheimer’s-related decline, ADHD, autism, migraines, insomnia, and stress-related conditions. They are intended as supportive tools for daily life, performance, and recovery—not as a replacement for medical or mental health care.

The full set of tools and guides referenced above are available below.

1. Brain Health Assessment
2. Brain Balancing Sound (like Yoga, EMDR, rhythmic drums, BrainGym)
3. Science based sounds for balancing focus, memory, attention, relaxation, or helping sleep.
4. Sleep Sound
5. Dementia Treatment
6. Low cost, easy to use heart rhythm biofeedback app.

These were all put together for you by a Licensed Professional Counselor, Peter Meilahn, from The Mindful Therapy Group.